High-tension Power Lines Research Articles

Composition and Conservation Status of Avifauna in Urban Non-protected Important Bird Area (IBA) Site of Western India

Kumbharwada wetland, an Important Bird Area (IBA) component in Bhavnagar, Gujarat, India, is a crucial wintering ground for migratory birds. Long-term monitoring of the avian community over a period of long time-frame is an excellent way to examine the health of this IBA site and thus provide an important ground to foster the conservation of birds in the region and management of this wetland. Given this consideration, field surveys were carried out from December 2020 to May 2023, following point count method to study the avian species richness in the study area. A total of 204 bird species belonging to 20 orders and 56 families are recorded, of which 85 species are migratory and 119 are resident. Anatidae is the most species-rich avian family (16 species). Highest number of species was recorded in the month of January (165 species in 2021 and 163 species in 2022). This wetland supports 107 (52.45%) wetland-associated species and 97 (47.55%) terrestrial species of birds. Twelve species are considered as Near Threatened, four species as Vulnerable and one species (Aquila nipalensis) as Endangered in IUCN Red List of Threatened Species. Four species (Sterna aurantia, Mycteria leucocephala, Phoeniconaias minor, and Threskiornis melanocephalus) with globally declining trend, are commonly seen in the study area, which shows that the wetland is a crucial habitat for bird species with high conservation priorities. Industrialization, encroachment, discharge of sewage water and chemical effluents, high-tension powerlines, stray dogs, and expansion of exotic vegetation remained the major threats to the habitat and avian community.

European Green Deal necropolitics: Exploring ‘green’ energy transition, degrowth & infrastructural colonization

This article critically examines the GND (Green New Deal) platform by exploring the reality of energy development under the European Green Deal (EGD). Taking a special interest in degrowth positions on energy development, the article argues that the European Green Deal is an exercise in necropolitics; intensifying market relationships, extraction, and infrastructural colonization. The article proceeds by reviewing and discussing recent environmental justice and degrowth positions on energy infrastructural development. The methodology outlines desk-based research on resource extraction as well as on the European energy markets. This accompanies multi-sited ethnographic fieldwork, charting environmental conflicts along a 400kv high-tension power line. This line goes across France, Catalonia and Southern Spain, stretching into Morocco and occupied Western Sahara. Unconventional research techniques, such as hitchhiking, enabled mobility and expanding the informal interview pool. Outlining the objectives of the EGD, the next section examines three aspects of its necropolitics. First, necropolitical economy reveals the reality of energy market liberalization under the EGD. Second, necropolitical extraction examines the expansion of mining and mineral processing, which are necessary for the EGD and ‘mainstream’ GNDs. Third, necropolitical operation reveal the reality of ‘a rapid rollout of renewable energy deployment’ by examining infrastructure conflicts along a 400kv power line between France and Spain. The process of infrastructural colonization is detailed, which also introduces different land defender perspectives on degrowth. Affirming the argument that the EGD is an exercise in necropolitics, the conclusion discusses important ways to expand degrowth, energy ecologies and real energy transition.

A CASE STUDY OF ELECTROMAGNETIC EXPOSURE FOR HIGH TENSION POWER LINES AND TRANSFORMER WITH AND WITHOUT BASE STATION ANTENNA

With the fast growth of electric activity and the spreading out of town scale, our lives are approached by extremely high voltage power transmission lines. And with the expansion of ultra-high voltage power transmission line, the ultra-high voltage transformer substation will come out in the place with intense inhabitants and the electromagnetic exposure of this transmission and transformer apparatus and its contamination to the inhabitants stimulate the immense anxiety from the civilization. This paper deals with electromagnetic radiation of extremely high voltage power transmission line. Here we have observed the electric and magnetic field beneath the transmission line by the process of equivalent charges and put forward the anticipation rule to the electromagnetic radiation in the engineering of extremely high voltage power dissemination and remodeling. Recognition the safe distance from the EMF produced from the high-tension overhead power lines in the locality of the precise region is the detailed goal of this study. The high-tension transmission lines generated EMF that bounded the projected site has to be underneath 0.2 µT. The safety approval distance has been allotted as 200 m from the active 300-KV high-tension power line.

Numerical Analysis of Filtering Circuit for Partial Discharges

Partial Discharge (PD) is a small electrical spark that happens within the insulation of medium and high voltage electrical assets. It is important to note that the discharge will erode the insulation and eventually result in disastrous insulation failure. Thus, PD detection is a crucial issue in high voltage insulation area. However, the on-site field PD tests, the high frequency PD signals detected by sensors, are vulnerable to interferences and background noises. This has a negative effect on high voltage apparatus fault diagnosis and localization accuracy. For that reason, noise suppression has become an urgent and vital issue for field high frequency PD signal testing. Thus, this research aims to model a filtering circuit to suppress the noise along with PD in high frequency measurement. A filtering circuit was analysed by using Proteus software to filter out the noise along with PD with decent accuracy and efficiency. Then, performance investigation of active high pass and passive high pass was conducted and studies to filter out PD noise suppression in high frequency were successfully developed. The active filter was focusing on the first order stage until fourth order stage. The passive filter only concentrated on two types of order stage; first order stage and second order stage. The result demonstrated that active high pass filter presented the best performance with low decibel frequency response (-20 dB), and was suitable for this research purpose compared to passive high pass filter. Besides, 700 Vrms has been selected to check the response at high voltages and the frequency values set at 50 Hz for low frequency and 8 kHz for high frequency. This specification design values have been selected because it is suitable for situations in high-tension power line. This type of filtering circuit is suitable to be used for academic and lab experimentation.

Population and conservation threats to the Greater Flamingos Phoenicopterus roseus (Aves: Phoenicopteriformes: Phoenicopteridae) at Basai Wetland and Najafgarh Jheel Bird Sanctuary, Haryana, India

Greater Flamingos are the largest and most widespread, among other species of Phoenicopteridae. This study documents the population structure and conservation threats affecting the population and habitat of the flamingos at Najafgarh Jheel Bird Sanctuary and Basai wetland in Haryana, India. The study areas were surveyed monthly between May 2019 to February 2020 at regular intervals. A Nikon 8 X 40 field binoculars and a Nikon SX60 camera were used to observe flocks of P. roseus. A total of 65 flocks of flamingo were observed, and 6,768 individuals were counted using point counts method. Najafgarh Jheel Bird Sanctuary holds a major proportion of their population comprising about 91.78 % and Basai wetland holds about 8.21 % of their population, while 52.46 % of the total population were classified as adults, and 47.53 % were juveniles (sub-adults). Habitat fragmentation resulting from construction of roads is one of the major threats, while overgrowth of water hyacinth, cattle grazing and fishing activities at Basai Wetland, adversely affected the flamingos. At the Najafgarh Jheel, cattle grazing was considered to be the major threat, followed by the overgrown water hyacinth, fishing activities and collision with high tension power lines.

High tension electric trauma at workplaces in Sri Lanka

High tension electrocution causes characteristic injury patterns and sequelae. Work related electric trauma are reported annually with no emphasis on its prevention. The differing patterns of the injuries related to high tension electrocutions are illustrated in this article as three distinctive case reports. The first clinical case is related to the arcing current resulting in bilateral hand amputation while carrying metal pipes in the vicinity of a high tension electric source. In the second instance a plumber whilst inspecting a water tank on the third floor was electrocuted by the overhead high tension power line, initially rendering him unconscious and resulting in death 65 days later. In the third, both the entry and exit wounds were identified due to true electrocution as the victim was touching a side mirror of a crane that in turn was in physical contact with a high tension power line in the process of lifting a transformer. Understanding of the differing mechanisms of causation of these injuries is immensely helpful to clinicians and forensic pathologists in order to provide appropriate treatment as electrocution causes complex, both immediate and delayed onset disease entities. It is helpful also in the interpretation of injury patterns in the process of tracing and reconstructing the succession of events for making compensation claims and for successful preventive strategies.

An Identity Based Authentication Protocol for Smart Grid Environment Using Physical Uncloneable Function

Smart grid plays an important role in managing demand response management in modern smart city using Information and Communication Technologies (ICTs). In smart grid environment, sensors are widely used for surveillance. These are deployed on the high tension power supply lines which help to share the information to control center about line breakage or any other flaw. Besides the cyber-attacks, sensors may also experience physical attacks as they are deployed on high-tension power lines in an open environment. Moreover, an attacker can also impersonate the information exchanged between sensors, gateways and control centers. Therefore, the most indispensable requirement is to prevent these cyber-attacks and physical attacks so that a secure and efficient surveillance system can be maintained for smart grid environment. Motivated from these, in this article, we propose an identity based authentication protocol for power supply-line surveillance in smart grid environment using physical uncloneable function. The performance analysis shows that our proposed protocol is resilient to various cyber-attacks alongwith the physical attacks on sensors. The proposed protocol is efficient as it has less computation cost as compared to various related protocols. Although, the communication cost of devised protocol is slightly higher than some protocols but it also offers three added security features as compared to other related protocols.

The underground sex life of the Guatemalan Spike-thumb Frog (Plectrohyla guatemalensis)

Two populations of Plectrohyla guatemalensis from two different sites in Sacatepéquez, Guatemala, were monitored for three consecutive rainy seasons, and noteworthy reproductive behavior was observed. The objective of the surveys was to assess the impact of nearby high-tension power lines, but additional information could be obtained. Our observations that male vocalizations to attract females occurred in the crevices of rocks in streams, inside which females lay eggs, suggest that the species’ reproduction is closely linked to the presence of such crevices. Any clutches were then guarded by the male until hatching. We inferred the existence of male-male competition for gaining control of these reproduction sites building upon previous observations, remarks about the genus and other species with similar patterns, and evidence of such aggression, although we did not directly observe any. Also, with the help of local wardens, we recorded vocalizations in mid-January, extending the previously reported reproductive period for this species. We therefore consider the conservation and restoration of rocky streams with adequate forest coverage to be an important conservation action for this species.

Spatial Response to Linear Infrastructures by the Endangered Golden Lion Tamarin

Linear infrastructures are a primary driver of economic development. However, they also can negatively affect wildlife by mortality and the barrier effect. In this paper, we address how paved and unpaved roads, high-tension power lines, and gas/oil pipelines affect home range size, core areas, and movement in an endangered primate, the golden lion tamarin (GLT). Location data were recorded using radio telemetry on 16 groups in two protected areas and in privately owned forest fragments. The GLT’s home range, not core area, increased in size for the groups that occupied locations far from linear infrastructures; home range was also significantly influenced by available forest size. None of the home ranges contained a road, but home ranges did contain power lines. GLTs used the surrounding landscape near all types of infrastructure. Movement analysis showed that most of the step lengths (distances between subsequent locations) were less than 100 m between two consecutive locations, but step length was longer for roads and longer for groups in fully forested habitats. Tamarins avoided paved roads when in close proximity to this type of infrastructure; this behavior increased in areas without adequate adjacent forest habitat. Our results show that linear infrastructures differ in their level of impact: roads can act as a barrier, whereas other types of infrastructure have minimal effect on movement and home range. We discuss these differences in impact in terms of structure, maintenance schedules, and edge effects of infrastructure.

Measurement of Electric Field Radiation from 11KVA High Tension Power Line and Its Environmental Effects in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Measurement of Electric Field Radiation from 11KVA High Tension Power Line and Its Environmental Effects in Calabar Metropolis, Nigeria

Wired: impacts of increasing power line use by a growing bird population

Power lines are increasingly widespread across many regions of the planet. Although these linear infrastructures are known for their negative impacts on bird populations, through collision and electrocution, some species take advantage of electricity pylons for nesting. In this case, estimation of the net impact of these infrastructures at the population level requires an assessment of trade-offs between positive and negative impacts. We compiled historical information (1958–2014) of the Portuguese white stork Ciconia ciconia population to analyze long-term changes in numbers, distribution range and use of nesting structures. White stork population size increased 660% up to 12000 breeding pairs between 1984 and 2014. In the same period, the proportion of nests on electricity pylons increased from 1% to 25%, likely facilitated by the 60% increase in the length of the very high tension power line grid (holding the majority of the nests) in the stork’s distribution range. No differences in breeding success were registered for storks nesting on electricity pylons versus other structures, but a high risk of mortality by collision and electrocution with power lines was estimated. We discuss the implications of this behavioral change, and of the management responses by power line companies, both for stork populations and for managers.

Assessment of electromagnetic field levels from surrounding high-tension overhead power lines for proposed land use.

The surrounding outdoor environment for new development has a big effect on the indoor quality of life. The main aim of this work was to determine the suitability of the area for building new schools with reference to electromagnetic field (EMF) effects. The specific objective of this study was to detect the safe distance from the EMF posed by the high-tension overhead power lines in the vicinity of the specified area. The measurements were taken for both the electric and magnetic fields in different months in order to detect the highest EMF levels during the peak power load season. EMDEX II with E-probe and EMDEX II with Linda were used for the measurements. These instruments were all calibrated by ENERTECH Company in USA. The EMF associated with high tension transmission lines that surrounded the proposed site has to be below 0.2 μT (Italian EMF regulations are the most suitable regulations for the establishment of schools in Kuwait). The safety clearance distance from the existing 300-kV high-tension power line has been assigned as 200 m and from other existing 132-kV high-tension power line was 50 m. The proposed site with its predefined boundaries has a magnetic field below the Italian EMF regulations for the establishment of new schools.

Processing of noisy magnetotelluric time series from Koyna-Warna seismic region, India: a systematic approach

<p>Rolling array pattern broad band magnetotelluric (MT) data was acquired in the Koyna-Warna (Maharashtra, India) seismic zone during 2012-14 field campaigns. The main objective of this study is to identify the thickness of the Deccan trap in and around the Koyna-Warna seismic zone and to delineate the electrical nature of the sub-basalt. The MT data at many places got contaminated with high tension power line noise due to Koyna hydroelectric power project. So, in the present study an attempt has been made to tackle this problem due to 50 Hz noise and their harmonics and other cultural noise using commercially available processing software MAPROS. Remote site was running during the entire field period to stand against the cultural noise problem. This study is based on Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) and mainly focuses on the behaviour of different processing parameters, their interrelations and the influences of different processing methods concerning improvement of the S/N ratio of noisy data. Our study suggests that no single processing approach can give desirable transfer functions, however combination of different processing approaches may be adopted while processing culturally affected noisy data.</p>

Perceptions of Healthcare Workers of Health Risks of Electromagnetic Fields

Background: This study assessed the perceptions of healthcare staff of the health risks of exposure to electromagnetic fields (EMF). Methods: In total, 328 healthcare workers (e.g., physicians, nurses, medical students, and paramedics) completed a self-administered questionnaire. The questionnaire assessed the following: risk perceptions of 17 environmental factors as potential health threats; EMF sources; information for the potential risks of EMF; and thoughts on how to protect the public from potential EMF-related health risks. Results: Of the included environmental factors, high-tension power lines and mobile phone handsets were ranked as the second and fourth lowest perceived risk, respectively. Approximately 60% of respondents were concerned about the potential health risks of EMF and dissatisfied with the information they received. The main reason for dissatisfaction was insufficient information. The most frequently cited action was that the government should review the available scientific evidence on potential EMF-related health risks. Conclusions: Having scientific basis through well-designed researches and providing accurate information to the public on the potential health risks of EMF will be important in the future. Korean J Health Promot 2015;15(2):39-46

Does magnetoreception mediate biological effects of power-frequency magnetic fields?

The question of possible biological effects of power-frequency magnetic fields (PF-MF) remains controversial, notably because no valid mechanism of interaction could be proposed so far for intensities relevant to human and animal exposure (e.g. such as near high-tension power lines). In rodents, however, a few consistent effects of weak PF-MF have been reported. These are, notably, influence on spatial memory and partial inhibition of melatonin secretion under long-lasting exposure. Recent developments in study of magnetoreception in mammals justify reviving the hypothesis previously proposed of the intervention of the magnetic sense in melatonin disruption by PF-MF. We revisit this hypothesis and revise and extend it with respect to current knowledge and, particularly, with respect to reported effects on spatial memory. Proposals are made for experimental testing of the hypothesis. We argue that these tests may provide further insight into mechanisms of biological interactions of PF-MF and also, into mechanisms of magnetoreception per se.

Exposure of Pregnant Dairy Heifers to High-Tension Power Lines [Health Effects

This article investigates the biological effects and potential health hazards to pregant dairy heifers from exposure to extremely-low-frequency (ELF) electromagnetic fields, in the 50/60 Hz range, particularly those associated with transmission lines. It was found that the EMF exposed cattles gained weight.

Community Exposure to Electromagnetic Fields in Jerusalem: A Pilot Study

ISEE-538 Objective: To map spatial distribution and hot spots for ELF and RF-MW in Jerusalem. Materials and Methods: Using maps and field surveys of high tension power lines (HTPL) (161 kV), location of cell phone antennas and transformer boxes, areas of potential risk for radiation exposure are identified in 3 Jerusalem neighborhoods. A Magnum 310 is used to measure ELF at a frequency of 40 to 310 Hz. A CA 43 Fieldmeter was used to measure RF-MW at a frequency of 0.1to 2500 MHz. Both use a 1-minute time weight. Measurements were taken at prechosen locations throughout the city, with findings mapped by GIS. Results: Readings >2 mG, (peak: 120 mG) were recorded near all 8 electrical transformer rooms. Three of these sites are in hallways with adjacent walls to residential apartments. In 1 older residential neighborhood (Beit HaKerem), the peak level in 3 residential locations close to HTPL was 1.5 mG. In contrast, 4 residential locations near newer HTPL (French Hill) readings ranged from 2.8 mG and 9.2mG. In 8 sites near cell phone antennae, intensity levels were <2 μW/cm2; however, 1 site recorded an intensity of 6.7 μW/cm2 at a distance of 20 meters from the source. Conclusions: Prior information from maps on location of power lines, transformers, and antennae helped us identify areas of potential concern for hot spots. The Benevento Statement of ICEMS has questioned the adequacy of INCRIP standards and has recommended application of precautionary strategies. The findings stated the case for notifying families living in apartments adjacent to transformers concerning hazard and potential risk and providing protective shielding. Municipal strategies for citywide exposure abatement include expanded identification of hot spots, burial of power lines, fiber optic last mile technologies, and other measures to reduce exposures to ELF and RF-MW to lowest possible levels.

Exposure of Pregnant Dairy Heifers to High-Tension Power Lines [Health Effects

Exposure of Pregnant Dairy Heifers to High-Tension Power Lines [Health Effects

Accuracy of short-term residential measurement in the prediction of 72-h exposure to power frequency magnetic field in households very close to high-tension transmission lines

Between February and April 2003, a total of 80 single-dwelling households close (< 70 m) to high-tension (161 or 345 kV) power lines in a northern community of Taiwan received measurements of indoor extremely low-frequency (ELF) magnetic field for 72 h. Measurements were performed with EMDEX II meter at a sampling rate of every 300 s, yielding some 860 readings of ELF magnetic field for each household. In addition to the 72-h mean ELF magnetic field, we also calculated arithmetic means of the first 2, 6, 12, and 288 readings taken in each household to represent the information on spot, 30-min, 60-min, and 24-h exposures, respectively. The mean 72-h exposure to ELF magnetic field for the 80 study households was estimated at 0.80 micro-Tesla (microT) with a standard deviation (SD) of 1.13 microT. The mean for pot, 30-min, 60-min, and 24-h exposure was 0.88 (SD 1.38), 0.90 (SD 1.40), 0.9 (SD 1.17), and 0.83 (SD 1.17) microT, respectively. There were high agreements, indicated by a nearly perfect intra-class correlation coefficient, between 72-h mean exposure and those short-term exposure measures. Additionally, the sensitivity and specificity of various short-term exposures in the prediction of 72-h exposure greater than 0.4 microT were similar at values of 0.82-0.87 and 0.93-0.95, respectively. This study indicates that short-term measurements of indoor ELF magnetic field seem adequate to represent the mean 72-h exposure, but tended to overpredict 72-h exposure greater than 0.4 microT. Further investigation is needed to assess whether these findings can be replicated in households far away from high-tension power lines.

Mortality of sarus cranes (Grus antigone) due to electricity wires in Uttar Pradesh, India

Although overhead electrical wires are known to have caused severe declines of bird populations, there are no studies in India that address this danger, even for endangered species. Rates of mortality, factors affecting mortality and population effects of electrical wires on the globally endangered sarus crane (Grus antigone) were assessed for breeding and non-breeding cranes in Etawah and Mainpuri districts, Uttar Pradesh, India. Non-breeding cranes were most susceptible to wires and, within territories, mortalities were higher for pre-dispersed young. Similar proportions of non-breeding and breeding cranes were killed, together accounting for nearly 1% of the total sarus crane population annually. Supply wires accounted for the majority of sarus crane deaths, and only non-breeding cranes were killed by both supply and high-tension power lines. Non-breeding crane deaths at roost sites were correlated with numbers of roosting birds and numbers of wires at each site. Over 40% of 251 known sarus crane territories had at least one overhead wire posing a risk to breeding adults and pre-dispersed young. A risk index for wires over territories of cranes was computed; mortality was not affected by increasing the number and therefore risk posed by wires. Most crane deaths in territories occurred as a result of wires at edges of territories. Wires around roosting sites, territoriality and age of sarus cranes appear to be the most important factors affecting their mortality due to wires. Mitigation measures will be most effective around roost sites and for wires that border territories of breeding pairs.